Daniel Akaka

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Daniel Akaka

| image = Daniel Akaka official photo.jpg

| caption = Official portrait, 2006

| jr/sr = United States Senator

| state = Hawaii

| term_start = May 16, 1990

| term_end = January 3, 2013

| predecessor = Spark Matsunaga

| successor = Mazie Hirono

| state1 = Hawaii

| district1 = {{ushr|HI|2|2nd}}

| term_start1 = January 3, 1977

| term_end1 = May 16, 1990

| predecessor1 = Patsy Mink

| successor1 = Patsy Mink

| birth_name = Daniel Kahikina Akaka

| birth_date = {{birth date|1924|9|11}}

| birth_place = Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii

| death_date = {{death date and age|2018|4|6|1924|9|11}}

| death_place = Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.

| restingplace = National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific

| party = Democratic

| spouse = Mary Chong

| children = 5, including Alan

| relatives = Abraham Akaka (brother)

| education = University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa (BEd, MEd)

| signature = Daniel Akaka Signature.svg

| allegiance = {{flag|United States|1912}}

| branch = United States Army

| serviceyears = 1945–1947

| rank = 18px Corporal{{cite web |url=http://www.ausa.org/legislation/congressionalinfo/Documents/OAS%20112th%20Congress.pdf |title=Once a Soldier... Always a Soldier |year=2011 |work=Legislative Agenda |publisher=Association of the United States Army |access-date=January 26, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131021200011/http://www.ausa.org/legislation/congressionalinfo/Documents/OAS%20112th%20Congress.pdf |archive-date=October 21, 2013}}

| unit = United States Army Corps of Engineers

| battles = World War II

| module = {{Listen|pos=center|embed=yes|filename=Sen. Daniel Akaka Introduces the Hawaii Tropical Forest Recovery Act.ogg|title=Daniel Akaka's voice|type=speech|description=Daniel Akaka introduces the Hawaii Tropical Forest Recovery Act
Recorded May 7, 1992}}

| native_name = {{nobold|李硕}}

| native_name_lang = zh

}}

{{infobox Chinese

| c = 李硕

| p = Lǐ Shuò

}}

Daniel Kahikina Akaka ({{IPAc-en|ə|ˈ|k|ɑː|k|ə}};[http://www.docstoc.com/docs/17699842/AP-PRONUNCIATION-GUIDE/ AP pronunciation guide] September 11, 1924 – April 6, 2018) was an American educator and politician who served as a United States Senator from Hawaii from 1990 to 2013. He was a member of the Democratic Party.

Born in Honolulu, he served in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers during World War II. He attended the University of Hawaii, where he received his bachelor's and master's degrees. Originally a high school teacher, Akaka went on to serve as a principal for six years. In 1969, the Department of Education hired him as a chief program planner. In the 1970s, he served in various governmental positions.

Akaka was first elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1976 to represent Hawaii's 2nd congressional district; he served for 13 years. In 1990, he was appointed to the U.S. Senate to succeed the deceased Spark Matsunaga, subsequently winning the special election to complete Matsunaga's term. He would later be reelected to three full terms. In March 2011, he announced he would not run for reelection in 2012.{{cite news|last=DePledge|first=Derrick|title=The right time|date=March 3, 2011|newspaper=Honolulu Star-Advertiser|url=http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/20110303_The_right_time.html|access-date=March 3, 2011|archive-date=November 6, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151106022924/http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/20110303_The_right_time.html|url-status=dead}}

After fellow U.S. Senator Daniel Inouye died on December 17, 2012, Akaka became the state's senior senator for 2 weeks until he left office on January 3, 2013. He was succeeded by fellow Democrat Mazie Hirono.{{cite news|title = Former US Sen. Daniel Akaka Dead At 93|url = https://www.civilbeat.org/2018/04/former-u-s-sen-daniel-akaka-dead-at-93/|work = Civil Beat|location = Honolulu, HI|author = Nick Grube| date = April 6, 2018}}

Early life, family, and education

File:Senator Daniel Akaka and Millie Akaka.jpg

Daniel Kahikina Akaka was born in Honolulu, the son of Annie (née Kahoa) and Kahikina Akaka. His paternal grandfather was born in Shantou, Guangdong, China, and his other grandparents were of Native Hawaiian descent.[http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~battle/senators/akaka.htm Genealogy] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080826022514/http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~battle/senators/akaka.htm |date=August 26, 2008 }} from ancestry.com{{cite web|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=NewsLibrary&p_multi=APAB&d_place=APAB&p_theme=newslibrary2&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=105D95C3C397D138&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM |title=NewsLibrary.com - newspaper archive, clipping service - newspapers and other news sources |publisher=Nl.newsbank.com |date=October 5, 2004 |access-date=April 6, 2018}} His brother was Rev. Abraham Akaka.{{cite web|author=John T. McQuiston |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/09/17/us/abraham-akaka-80-hawaii-clergyman-dies.html |title=Abraham Akaka, 80, Hawaii Clergyman, Dies |work=The New York Times |date=September 17, 1997 |access-date=April 6, 2018}}

Akaka described Hawaiian as his "native tongue".{{cite web |last1=Zotigh |first1=Dennis |title="The Spirit of Aloha Means Nothing Unless We Share It"—Senator Daniel Akaka (1924–2018) |url=https://www.smithsonianmag.com/blogs/national-museum-american-indian/2018/04/07/sen-daniel-akaka/ |website=Smithsonian Magazine |access-date=August 10, 2022}}

Akaka graduated from Kamehameha Schools in 1942. During World War II he served in the United States Army Corps of Engineers, including service on Saipan and Tinian. He served from 1945 to 1947. He worked as a welder and a mechanic and in 1948 was a first mate on the schooner Morning Star.{{cite web|url=http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2006/Jan/20/ln/FP601200356.html |title=Akaka in Congress since 1976 | The Honolulu Advertiser | Hawaii's Newspaper |publisher=The Honolulu Advertiser |date=January 20, 2006 |access-date=April 6, 2018}}

Akaka married Mary Mildred "Millie" Chong on May 22, 1948. The Akakas had five children.

Entering college (funded by the G.I. Bill), Akaka earned a Bachelor of Education in 1952 from the University of Hawaii. He later received a Master of Education from the same school in 1966.{{cite book |last=Ruymar |first=Lorene |date=1996 |title=The Hawaiian Steel Guitar and its Great Hawaiian Musicians |location=Anaheim Hills, California |publisher=Centerstream Publishing |page=82 |isbn=1-57424-021-8}}

Early career

Akaka worked as a high school teacher in Honolulu from 1953 until 1960, when he was hired as a vice principal. In 1963, he became head principal.

In 1969, the Department of Health, Education and Welfare hired Akaka as a chief program planner. Akaka continued working in government, holding positions as director of the Hawaii Office of Economic Opportunity, human resources assistant for Governor George Ariyoshi, and director of the Progressive Neighborhoods Program.{{cite news|last=Brown |first=Emma |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/daniel-k-akaka-hawaii-senator-with-spirit-of-aloha-dies-at-93/2018/04/06/c732d81a-39cc-11e8-8fd2-49fe3c675a89_story.html |title=Daniel K. Akaka, Hawaii senator with 'spirit of aloha,' dies at 93 |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=April 6, 2018}}{{cite web|author=The Associated Press |url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2018/04/06/daniel-akaka-longtime-hawaii-senator-dead-at-93/ |title=Daniel Akaka, longtime Hawaii senator, dead at 93 |work=Mercurynews.com |date=April 6, 2018 |access-date=April 6, 2018}}

U.S. House of Representatives (1977-1990)

File:Daniel Akaka as Representative.jpg

Akaka was first elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1976 to represent {{ushr|Hawaii|2}}, comprising all of the state outside the city of Honolulu.{{cite web|last=Killough |first=Ashley |url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/04/06/politics/hawaii-senator-daniel-akaka-dead/index.html |title=Former Hawaii Sen. Daniel Akaka dies at 93 - CNNPolitics |publisher=Cnn.com |date=September 1, 2015 |access-date=April 6, 2018}} He was reelected seven times, all by wide margins; apart from 1986, when he obtained 76%, he never received less than 80 percent of the vote. {{citation needed|date=April 2018}}

Akaka voted for the Economic Recovery Tax Act of 1981.{{Cite web |title=TO PASS H.R. 4242, TAX INCENTIVE ACT OF 1981. (MOTION … -- House Vote #167 -- July 29, 1981 |url=https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/97-1981/h167 |access-date=2025-04-01 |website=GovTrack.us |language=en}} The Act aimed to stimulate economic growth by significantly reducing income tax rates. It passed the House of Representatives in a 323–107 vote, the Senate via a voice vote, and it was signed into law by President Ronald Reagan on August 13, 1981.{{Cite web |last=Rep. Rostenkowski |first=Dan [D-IL-8 |date=1981-08-13 |title=H.R.4242 - 97th Congress (1981-1982): Economic Recovery Tax Act of 1981 |url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/97th-congress/house-bill/4242#:~:text=Economic%20Recovery%20Tax%20Act%20of%201981%20-%20Title%20I:%20Individual%20Income,,%201983,%201984%20and%20thereafter. |access-date=2025-04-01 |website=www.congress.gov}} However, Akaka voted against the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981.{{Cite web |title=TO PASS H.R. 3982, TO PROVIDE FOR THE BUDGET RECONCILIATION … -- House Vote #104 -- June 26, 1981 |url=https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/97-1981/h104 |access-date=2025-04-05 |website=GovTrack.us |language=en}} The Act decreased federal spending and increased millitary funding. Despite his vote against it, the bill passed the House of Representatives in a 232–193 vote, the Senate via a voice vote, and it was signed into law by President Ronald Reagan the same day.{{Cite web |last=Rep. Jones |first=James R. [D-OK-1 |date=1981-08-13 |title=H.R.3982 - 97th Congress (1981-1982): Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981 |url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/97th-congress/house-bill/3982 |access-date=2025-04-05 |website=www.congress.gov}}

Akaka voted for the Abandoned Shipwrecks Act of 1987.{{Cite web |title=TO SUSPEND THE RULES AND PASS S 858, ABANDONED SHIPWRECK … -- House Vote #532 -- March 29, 1988 |url=https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/100-1988/h532 |access-date=2025-04-01 |website=GovTrack.us |language=en}} The Act asserts United States title to certain abandoned shipwrecks located on or embedded in submerged lands under state jurisdiction, and transfers title to the respective state, thereby empowering states to manage these cultural and historical resources more efficiently, with the goal of preventing treasure hunters and salvagers from damaging them. President Ronald Reagan signed it into law on April 28, 1988.{{Cite web |title=Laws - Division of Historical Resources - Florida Department of State |url=https://dos.fl.gov/historical/archaeology/underwater/laws/#:~:text=On%2028%20April%201988,%20President,authority%20over%20those%20abandoned%20shipwrecks |access-date=2025-04-01 |website=dos.fl.gov}}

U.S. Senate (1990-2013)

=Elections=

File:Daniel Akaka at senate youth program.jpg

Akaka was appointed by Governor John Waihee to the U.S. Senate in April 1990 to serve temporarily after the death of Senator Spark Matsunaga.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/04/30/us/hawaii-congressman-named-to-matsunaga-s-senate-seat.html|title=Hawaii Congressman Named To Matsunaga's Senate Seat|work=The New York Times |date=April 30, 1990 |agency=AP|access-date=August 7, 2018|language=en}} In November of the same year, he was elected to complete the remaining four years of Matsunaga's unexpired term, defeating U.S. Representative Pat Saiki with 53% of the vote. He was reelected in 1994 for a full six-year term with over 70% of the vote. He was reelected almost as easily in 2000.{{cite web|url=http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2002/Sep/09/ln/ln10a.html |title=John Carroll: Faith shaped a winding journey | The Honolulu Advertiser | Hawaii's Newspaper |publisher=The Honolulu Advertiser |date=September 9, 2002 |access-date=April 6, 2018}}

For the 2006 election, he overcame a strong primary challenge from U.S. Representative Ed Case,{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna14980174 |title=Hawaii's Akaka defeats Case for Senate - politics |work=NBC News |date=September 24, 2006 |access-date=April 6, 2018}} then won a third full term with 61 percent of the vote, defeating Cynthia Thielen.{{cite web|url=https://www.rollcall.com/news/politics/daniel-akaka-long-serving-hawaii-senator-dead-93 |title=Daniel Akaka, Long-Serving Hawaii Senator, Dead at 93 |publisher=Rollcall.com |date=April 6, 2018 |access-date=April 6, 2018}}

=Tenure=

During his Senate tenure, Akaka served as the Chair of the United States Senate Committee on Indian Affairs and the United States Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

In 1996, Akaka sponsored legislation that led to nearly two-dozen Medals of Honor being belatedly awarded to Asian-American soldiers in the 442nd Regimental Combat Team and the 100th Infantry Battalion.{{cite news|last1=Clymer|first1=Adam|title=Daniel Akaka, Former Democratic Senator From Hawaii, Dies at 93|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/06/us/former-senator-daniel-akaka-dead.html|access-date=April 16, 2018|work=The New York Times |date=April 7, 2018|page=B7}} He also passed legislation compensating Philippine Scouts who were refused veterans benefits.

From 2000 until his retirement from the Senate in 2013, Akaka sponsored legislation, known as the Akaka Bill, to afford sovereignty to Native Hawaiians. In 2005, Akaka acknowledged in an interview with NPR that the Akaka Bill could eventually result in outright independence.{{cite web| last=Kaste | first=Martin | title=Native Hawaiians Seek Self Rule | date=August 16, 2005 | work=NPR.org | publisher=NPR | url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4801431 | access-date=March 3, 2011}}

The Akaka Bill has been supported as a means of restoring Hawaiian self-determination lost with the 1893 overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawaii.{{cite news| last=Reyes | first=B.J. | title=Obama would sign Akaka Bill as president | date=January 22, 2008 | newspaper=Honolulu Star-Bulletin | url=http://archives.starbulletin.com/2008/01/22/news/story05.html | access-date=March 3, 2011}} It would include giving up the ability to sue for sovereignty in federal courts in exchange for recognition by the federal government (but would not block sovereignty claims made under international law.){{cite news| last=Carlson | first=Ragnar | title=Nationhood | date=August 19, 2009 | newspaper=Honolulu Weekly | url=http://honoluluweekly.com/cover/2009/08/nationhood/ | access-date=March 3, 2011}} The bill has been criticized as discriminating on the basis on ethnic origin in that only Native Hawaiians would be permitted to participate in the governing entity that the bill would establish.{{cite news| last=Camire | first=Dennis | title=After bill fails, Akaka vows to try again | date=June 9, 2006 | newspaper=Honolulu Advertiser | url=http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2006/Jun/09/ln/FP606090359.html | access-date=March 3, 2011}}

In October 2002, Akaka voted against authorizing the use of military force against Iraq.{{cite web|url=http://senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=107&session=2&vote=00237 |title=U.S. Senate: Legislation & Records > Votes > Roll Call Vote |publisher=Senate.gov |access-date=April 6, 2018}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/10/11/national/senate-roll-call.html|title=Senate Roll Call|date=October 11, 2002|access-date=September 28, 2021|work=The New York Times}}

In April 2006, Akaka was ranked by Time as one of America's Five Worst Senators. The article criticized him for mainly authoring minor legislation, calling him "master of the minor resolution and the bill that dies in committee".{{cite magazine|first1=Massimo|last1=Calabresi |first2=Perry Jr.|last2=Bacon|url=http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1183980,00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060515062953/http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1183980,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 15, 2006|title=Daniel Akaka: Master of the Minor|magazine=Time |publisher=Meredith Corporation|location=New York City|date=April 24, 2006|access-date=April 6, 2018}}

In February 2009, a bill was authored in the Philippine House of Representatives by Rep. Antonio Diaz seeking to confer honorary Filipino citizenship on Akaka, Senators Daniel Inouye and Ted Stevens and Representative Bob Filner, for their role in securing the passage of benefits for Filipino World War II veterans.{{cite news |first=Leila|last=Salaverria |title=4 US solons as honorary Filipinos |publisher=Philippine Daily Inquirer |url=http://globalnation.inquirer.net/news/breakingnews/view/20090224-190786/4-US-solons-as-honorary-Filipinos |date=February 24, 2009 |access-date=March 20, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090227074635/http://globalnation.inquirer.net/news/breakingnews/view/20090224-190786/4-US-solons-as-honorary-Filipinos |archive-date=February 27, 2009 }}

On March 2, 2011, Akaka announced he would not be running for re-election in the 2012 U.S. Senate elections. The 88-year-old Akaka attended his final session in the Senate on December 12, 2012. He closed his speech with a traditional Hawaiian farewell, "a hui hou" (until we meet again).{{cite news|url=http://www.khon2.com/news/local/story/Sen-Daniel-Akaka-says-a-hui-hou-to-Congress/6ymRwwfpAU-wxHwpwBA5HA.cspx|title=Sen. Daniel Akaka says 'a hui hou' to Congress|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130127175357/http://www.khon2.com/news/local/story/Sen-Daniel-Akaka-says-a-hui-hou-to-Congress/6ymRwwfpAU-wxHwpwBA5HA.cspx |archive-date=January 27, 2013|work=KHON-TV|date=December 12, 2012}}

=Committee assignments=

File:Senator Daniel Akaka and Senator Barack Obama.jpg in 2005]]

Committee on Armed Services
Subcommittee on Personnel
Subcommittee on Readiness and Management Support
Subcommittee on SeaPower
Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
Subcommittee on Housing, Transportation, and Community Development
Subcommittee on Financial Institutions
Subcommittee on Securities, Insurance, and Investment
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
Subcommittee on Federal Financial Management, Government Information and International Security
Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management, the Federal Workforce and the District of Columbia (Chairman)
Ad Hoc Subcommittee on State, Local, and Private Sector Preparedness and Integration
Committee on Indian Affairs (Chairman)
Committee on Veterans' Affairs
Congressional Task Force on Native Hawaiian Issues (Chairman)

=Caucus memberships=

File:George W. Bush approves Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Marine National Monument.jpg in 2006]]

Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus
Congressional Biotechnology Caucus
Congressional Postal Caucus (Vice Chair)
International Conservation Caucus
Senate Anti-Meth Caucus
Senate Army Caucus (Co-Chair)
Senate Sweetener Caucus (Co-Chair)
Senate Oceans Caucus

Death

Akaka died of organ failure at a Honolulu care facility on April 6, 2018, at the age of 93.{{cite web|author=HNN Staff |url=http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/37897099/former-us-sen-daniel-akaka-dies-at-93 |title=Former US Sen. Akaka, the 'ambassador of aloha,' dies at 93 - Hawaii News Now - KGMB and KHNL |publisher=Hawaii News Now |date=April 6, 2018 |access-date=April 6, 2018}} Former president Barack Obama remembered Akaka as "a tireless advocate for working people, veterans, native Hawaiian rights, and the people of Hawaii. [...] He embodied the aloha spirit with compassion and care."{{cite web|author=HNN Staff |url=http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/37901085/obama-akaka-was-a-tireless-advocate-who-loved-hawaiis-people-who-loved-him-back |title=Obama: Akaka loved Hawaii's people (who loved him right back) |publisher=Hawaii News Now |date=April 6, 2018 |access-date=April 6, 2018}}

Electoral history

{{Election box begin | title = United States Senate special election, 1990: Hawaii}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Daniel Akaka

|votes = 188,901

|percentage = 53.72

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Pat Saiki

|votes = 155,978

|percentage = 44.35

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Libertarian Party (United States)

|candidate = Ken Schoolland

|votes = 6,788

|percentage = 1.93

|change =

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 32,923

|percentage = 9.36

|change =

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 351,666

|percentage =

|change =

}}

{{Election box begin | title=United States Senate election, 1994: Hawaii{{cite web|url=http://hawaii.gov/elections/results/1994/94gen.pdf |title=Office of Elections |publisher=Hawaii.gov |access-date=April 6, 2018}}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Democratic Party (US)

|candidate = Daniel Akaka (incumbent)

|votes = 256,189

|percentage = 71.8%

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Republican Party (US)

|candidate = Maria Hustace

|votes = 86,320

|percentage = 24.2%

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Libertarian Party (US)

|candidate = Richard Rowland

|votes = 14,393

|percentage = 4.0%

|change =

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes =

|percentage =

|change =

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes =

|percentage =

|change =

}}

{{Election box hold with party link|

|winner = Democratic Party (US)

|loser =

|swing =

}}

{{Election box begin | title=United States Senate election, 2000: Hawaii{{cite web|url=http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/2000/2000Stat.htm |title=2000 ELECTION STATISTICS |publisher=Clerk.house.gov |access-date=April 6, 2018}}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Democratic Party (US)

|candidate = Daniel Akaka (incumbent)

|votes = 251,215

|percentage = 77.7%

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Republican Party (US)

|candidate = John Carroll

|votes = 84,701

|percentage = 24.5%